A desalination plant permit goes to the public again this week. Here’s when.
Corpus Christi desalination permit expected to bring packed house Caller Times
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A key element in the city of Corpus Christi’s plans for desalination plant development
A key element in the city of Corpus Christi’s plans for desalination plant development will go before the public again Thursday in a scheduled meeting on the project’s draft discharge permit.
Advocacy groups prepare for rally against desalination plant
Heading into the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s event, local advocacy groups are making preparations for a rally outside the American Bank Center shortly before the 7 p.m. meeting gets underway – in a news release, the Coastal Action Network describing desalination as a “false solution that benefits polluters, not people.”
Controversy surrounding the proposed project
It’s among the points more hotly contended between opponents and supporters of the proposed project, which would in its initial phase have the capacity to generate as much as 30 million gallons of treated water per day.
Supporters argue for increased water supply
Proponents have said increasing the city’s water supply is not exclusively intended to support industrial operations and is integral in supporting additional population and commercial growth.
Potential environmental impacts debated
Potential environmental impacts have been heavily debated, with opponents and proponents citing different – and sometimes conflicting – studies questioning, and alternatively asserting, whether the proposed plant could be managed in a way that would protect local ecology.
State regulators defend draft permit
In its meeting notice, state regulators wrote that the draft permit meets “all statutory and regulatory requirements,” and that it has been “determined that no significant degradation of water quality is expected in Corpus Christi Inner Harbor.”
Opponents call for infrastructure investment instead
Several opponents have suggested decisionmakers expend funds on addressing the city’s existing, crumbling infrastructure, describing desalination in the Coastal Action Network news release as a “false narrative that desalination will provide water to a drought prone region.”
Funding and project updates
Funding for the project continues to move forward as city representatives seek a low-interest loan from the Texas Water Development Board.
State officials last week ranked Corpus Christi’s Inner Harbor desalination plant proposal as the second-highest priority for funding based on the first competitive round of applications submitted from around the state.
Agency records show in the lead Greenville’s proposed water treatment plant expansion, which would be eligible for an $85 million low-interest loan.
Corpus Christi is listed as eligible for the same amount that had been requested, $535 million.
The board in the same meeting gave the green light for as much as about $3 billion in funding be set aside for the prioritization cycle, wrote Texas Water Development Board spokeswoman Emma Rogers in an email to the Caller-Times.
Next steps in the process require city officials to submit a full application next month.
Increased project cost and capacity
The city previously accepted a $220 million low-interest loan from the agency’s programs – a figure that had been based on 2019 estimates for construction of a plant capability of generating 20 million gallons of treated water per day.
Since then, city officials have bumped up the proposed plant’s capacity to 30 million gallons of water per day.
It is now estimated that total project cost would be about $757.5 million – a sum of plant construction at $541.5 million and previously unidentified infrastructure costs at $211 million.
City Councilman’s perspective
City Councilman Roland Barrera is among the public figures anticipated to attend TCEQ’s meeting.
The city needs the additional water, he said, adding that he was hopeful TCEQ would see the city had performed its research.
“Obviously there (are) a lot of passionate individuals (who) make decisions based on emotions,” Barrera said. “But we just need to be able to absorb all the facts.”
Permits and drought restrictions
In addition to a discharge permit, plant operations would require a water rights permit. The city was awarded a water rights permit in October 2022.
The city has been under Stage 2 drought restrictions since March 12, and previously under Stage 1 restrictions since June 2022.
Stage 2 drought is defined as the city’s combined levels of Lake Corpus Christi and the Choke Canyon Reservoir measuring below 30%. City data showed those levels standing at about 28.5%.
Public meeting details
Public meeting and comment details, as shown in the notice:
- When: 7 p.m. April 18
- Where:
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The article discusses the city of Corpus Christi’s plans for a desalination plant, which is connected to SDG 6 as it aims to provide clean water and sanitation. The increased water supply is also linked to SDG 9, as it supports infrastructure development. The article mentions that the project is intended to support population and commercial growth, which aligns with SDG 11. Additionally, the potential environmental impacts and the debate surrounding the project relate to SDG 13, which focuses on climate action.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
- SDG 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets identified are related to improving water-use efficiency (SDG 6.4), upgrading infrastructure for sustainability (SDG 9.4), ensuring access to basic services (SDG 11.1), and integrating climate change measures (SDG 13.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Water treatment waste discharge volume
- Environmental impact studies
- Investment in infrastructure
- Water supply levels (Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir)
The article mentions the draft permit allowing the discharge of water treatment waste, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 6.4. The debate surrounding the potential environmental impacts of the project suggests the need for environmental impact studies, which can serve as indicators for SDG 13.2. The article also discusses the funding and investment in infrastructure, which can be an indicator of progress towards SDG 9.4. Additionally, the water supply levels in Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir can be used as indicators for SDG 6.4 and SDG 11.1.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Targets Indicators SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. – Water treatment waste discharge volume
– Water supply levels (Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir)SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. – Investment in infrastructure SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. – Investment in infrastructure SDG 13: Climate Action 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. – Environmental impact studies Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: caller.com
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